Here is the army of the second chapter of Joel, of the third chapter of Habakkuk, of the nineteenth chapter of Revelation. Here is the army of the Lord, the army of Christ. This is the army that will be caught up to meet the Commander in Chief in the air.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (I Thessalonians 4:16)

The army is Israel, the "tree," the royal priesthood. We think that Ezekiel 37:10 is describing the first resurrection from the dead (Revelation 20:4-6). If not, what then is it describing?

Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. (Ezekiel 37:11,12)

It says nothing here about the army being caught up to meet the Lord in the air. We feel that the catching up into the air is not significant. The only reason God's Israel is caught up to meet the Lord in the air is so the army can be united with the Commander In Chief in preparation for the invasion of the Battle of Armageddon.

The "whole house of Israel" is the good olive tree—that on which the elect Gentiles have been and yet are being grafted. There only is one Church, one Israel, one Body of Christ, one Kingdom of God, one Wife of the Lamb, one elect of God, one new Jerusalem. The olive tree is Israel—the struggler with God.

Notice the sequence of events:

The dry bones are brought together and given strength, form, and beauty.

The Holy Spirit of God breathes on this new "Adam."

The army of the Lord comes from its graves and stands on its feet.

God places His elect in their own land.

This is what we can expect to happen in the future. All the elect of God, whether Jewish or Gentile by natural birth, will be brought together in the Head—Christ. The coming together of the Body of Christ will take place during the great tribulation and will be protected by a covering of the Glory of the Lord.

And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. (Isaiah 4:5)

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. (Isaiah 26:20)

As soon as the Body of Christ has been brought to fullness of stature it will be filled with the Spirit of the Lord (compare the sixtieth chapter of the Book of Isaiah).

To be continued.